I got my shipment of 18 slate 4x4 coasters in today !!
Any ideas or suggestions or tips ??
Slate is a blast.
Suggestions… yeah,
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Do your first materials test on the BACK of one of the pieces… once you establish what speed and power you want to use, you still have the front of the piece for true artwork (maybe it’s not a great coaster anymore because of the underside, but you can use it for a plaque or something).
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You don’t need a ton of power… in fact too much and the slate will yellow and blister up. A lighter touch will give you the grey that most people prefer against the black slate.
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Some people like to treat their slate either before or after the engrave. I chose to us a 50/50 mix of Mineral Spirits and Boiled Linseed Oil. I brush it on with a cheap foam brush, then let it set for an hour and then buff it off with a towel. Gives great contrast, and allows the actual engraved surface to still be absorbent in case it remains a coaster.
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Don’t limit yourself to coasters. There are many sizes and shapes of slate. Below I will post a couple pictures. The first two are actually some of my first coasters (Doogan is my Husky). The last is my Chili Recipe on an 8x12 slate board. I also engraved the cooking instructions on the back in the Landscape direction.
Just my $.02.
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Thank you !
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